Anti-Racism Resources March 2023: Intersectionality of Privilege
We are all marginalised or privileged by the intersection of multiple aspects of our personal characteristics and identities such as class, religion, ethnicity, etc. Learn more about how acknowledging and understanding our own privilege helps us to be considerate about how we, and society in general, treat those that are different to us.
priv·il·ege
Noun
1. a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.
The term ‘privilege’ is contentious. It can feel like an accusation, or an insult, or a word used to make us feel bad about our achievements. Addressing privilege is usually uncomfortable and we may experience a range of emotions from defensiveness and anger to guilt and defeat. As difficult as it may be, it is important that we recognise our own privilege as it will help us to be considerate about how we, and society in general, treat those that are different to us.
Simply put, privilege is societally granted, unearned advantage given to some people and not others. In general, this is based on systems, structures, norms and biases that impact on people based on factors such as race, gender, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexuality, class, body type, education, wealth, etc. Acknowledging our privilege doesn't mean that life hasn’t been hard, or that we haven't earned our successes, nor does it only relate to unearned wealth and intangible benefits. When we have privilege, we don’t notice it. However, the absence of privilege can make life harder than it should be and can, in some instances, lead to oppression.
Privilege is intersectional which means that one person can experience both advantage and disadvantage, or even multiple advantages or disadvantages, based on different aspects of their identity or social capital. For example, a person may experience racial privilege for being white but class oppression for being working class. Having white privilege doesn’t mean that you haven’t suffered, or that life hasn’t been difficult, and it doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve your success. What it does mean is that the colour of your skin hasn’t been the cause of your hardship or suffering and it hasn’t impeded your success
Examples of privilege:
- You can say no when asked if you want a receipt at the supermarket.
- You have never thought twice about getting into a lift with a man you don’t know.
- You don’t worry about being stopped and searched by police.
- You have never had someone touch your hair or body without asking.
- You can generally walk alone at night without the fear of being raped or otherwise harmed.
- You can go anywhere without having to consider how accessible your journey and destination will be.
- You never have to hide your true sexual orientation.
- You never have to justify why you are using a certain bathroom.
